Dirigible headlight for automobiles



June 21 1927. 1,633,332

A. H. JOHNSON DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed May 19. 1926 BY @0% r r ATTORN Y Patented June 21, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

.ALLINGTON H. JOHNSON, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT Application filed May 19,

This invention relates` to improvements in dirigible headlights for automobiles and other types of motor driven vehicles; more particularly, the invention relates to mechanism to be used in operative connection with the steering mechanism of an automobileV whereby the head lights may be automatically turned from side to side, in accordance with change in direction of travel of the vehicle, in order that the light therefrom will at all times be east in the roadway to add to the safety and coi'ivenience of driving especially in winding roadways and in making sharp turns.

Thel principal object of this invention is to provide mechanism that may be made at a relatively small cost, that is easily installed or attached and which will operate automatically to change the direction of the lights in accordance with each change of direction of the steering wheels.

Another object is to provide mechanism of the above character that may be installed without necessitating any change, alteration or addition of parts on the ear as they already exist and which is to be used in connection with the headlight with which the vehicle is originally equipped.

in accomplishing` these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the iinproved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the aci'rompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a front view of an automobile equipped with dirigible headlights in accordance with the present invention.

1Figure 2 is a perspective view of the headlight turning` mechanism.

lfigure 3 is a sectional detail of the mechanisinwshowing the pivoted connections of the various levers and the manner of attaching the supporting bracket to the vehicle axle. Figure t is a view showingthe pivotal mounting of o ne of the headlights and its turning lever.

Referring more in detail to the several views of the drawings- 1 designates what may be an automobile of any of the common types or makes, having a front axle 2, by means of which the front, steering wheels 3-3 are mounted, and t designates the steering arm connecting red by means of which the wheels are held in alinement with respect to cach other FOR AUTOMOBILES.

1926. serial No. 110,115.

and which, in connection with other steering gear, not shown, is used to steer the car along a roadway.

Yln the present illustration, the vehicle is equipped with headlights 5 5, each pivotally supported by means of a vertical pivot pin (3 that is fixed to the lower side of the headlight housing and extends downwardly and revolubly through a bearing 7 which may he of any suitable character, as in a cross rod S, extended between the fenders 9. Detachably fixed about each of the headlight housings is a band 1() formed of two semi-circular sections with ends bolted t0- `gether as at 11, and vfixed to the lower pertions of these bands are forwardly extending arms or levers 12 by means of which the headlights may be rotated from side to side and which are connected at their outer ends by means of a cross bar 13 so that both headlights may be operated together and held in parallel relation during operation.

The headlight actuating mechanism is supported by means of a bracket that is fixed rigidly to and which extends forwardly from the axle 2. As shown best in Figures 2 and 3, the bracket comprises upper and lower horizontally disposed bars 15 and 15, the rearward ends of which are disposed against upper and lower faces, respectively, et the axle and are clamped rigidly thereto by means of bolts 17 extended therethrough on opposite sides of the axle. The bar 15, near its entier end, is inclined downwardly to the bar 1G and is riveted or otherwise connected therewith. The bar 16 extends forwardly of the axle a sullicient distance to clear the front of the vehicle and is then turned vertically upward for a short distance and is then oth-'et inwardly a slighty distance, as at 1f), and then continues vcrtically upward pro\.'idin;Y the arm 20 to which parts are attached as presently described.

Mounted horizontally upon the bracket bar 15 is a. bar 21 which is pivotally attached to the bracket by means of a bolt 22 that is slidably mounted in a slot 23 formed longitudinallyin the bar 15. At its forward end the bar 21 has a vertically npturned foot 2t and at its rearward end is pivotally fixed by means of a bolt 25 between a pair of clamping; plates 2G-2G that tit against opposite sides of the steering cross rod et and Cil set 19, is a .ever 31, the upper end of whiehV is hiureated to provide tile two apart, parallel aires i2-312, und Whioh, :l its lower ed, is elidelilj' contained between the spaced guide Winge 33m-3 ot a hloclr 534i that ,is pivotelly niounled at the lori'ard end oi lever hy lneane or a holt livotelly mounted hy means olif a hol that extends through the up 3er end el? the bracketstandard Q is a lever having lower end slidehly disposed `between t spaced arme of lever 3l and pivotelly eonneeted Ythereto hy means or u holt 39 that is fixed in said urine end which entends through a slot Ll- O prei/'ded longitudinally el the lever 38. Pivotally connected with lhe upper end of the lever 38 is e linlr ll which extends laterally and its 'end hingedly' connected, at e2, with the eross har 13 whereby the headlight turning zii-ins are connected.

Assuming that the parte are so eonstrueteek anr,L assembled and that the several. 'luie urns ted,

i or pivotpoints have heen properly loee it is readily apparent that should the etc ring ineehanie-rn of the Vehicle he actuated to turn the steeing Wheels :is to direct the Vehicle about a Curve or turn in e roadir-9.),7 the various levers willy he actuated to 'turn the headlights accordingly so that e in is always directed in the direction oE tra"Y lt is further appa lent that tlp.Vx neetions in the various pa te the required relative inoif'euient lerere and. it .ie `further to he 1 thut the lengths oli' the levers: ai el the pivot pointe will he determined hy the location of parte with which the device is to he used and may fairy Nlor -f'lirigrenli maires oi1 eure.

lt ie also apiarent that in headlights set forward el 1urning arms l2!r inay he 1 ly instead of lforwar-dly ae l ie ffl lever 3l may he elin'nieited and the lower end ol lever il@ extended into operative connection with guide 3l on the ioruard end of lever 2L lt is further apparent that VarioueI minor details el cons yruetion een he altered williH out departing Ytroni [he spirit oil5 the in reution and, .ior this reason, l do uol:v deeire to he limited only to the device as herein illustrated.

l-laring thus: described rny inn` l elaiin as new tirerein. and desire to si.

1 hy Lettersdetent, is:

l. The eo Ltion With a character den .ihed having an i Ye i jrg linuelrle eonneetlng rod une. nr l'allj supported headlights With :1i-ur attached tnereto :for rotating the saine, ol a liraelet 2d rigidly to the axle liaifingl :i heriiioutal portion extending` forwardly therefrom and jfirm'ided, at its outer enffh itl :i rertieul f-c'tandard, e horizon.:al lever piivotally at its lower erich with the Lippe end portion the second. lever, and e 'inl eounectingg the upper end or the tlird lever with the i iuht rotating; arrns.

e. he eon'ihination with a vehicle oll the el ariieter described having a. trent axle, a fisteering lnuelrle connecting' rod deposed l of the aigle and having' piro'tall mounted headlights With Pirnie extendiiie rdly th irefroni whereby they may nd a eresie har connecting the Iaid l a hraelet rlined rigidly to Vthe eoinprieing a horizontal portion extended lorif'ardly from the axle and a vertical etenda'd at its forward end, a horixonhli lever having' a pivotal und Ahle eouuooion with the horizontal orion olf lho hr; het and haring; a pivotal. coiiurcliou, at iti: rearward end. with the sie iiourlale counerti n G' a second lever pivotal@i mounted ou the vertical portion ol the bracket haringfj un lower eud elidalllv coulalued iu said freude meer ro' ou he 

